Press Releases

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. House Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI) and Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Jim McDermott (D-WA) issued the following statements in response to the report issued by the Labor Department which finds that Bahrain is not living up to its Free Trade Agreement obligations in connection with recent unrest:

“The Labor Department is taking an important step in its Bahrain labor findings and I fully support its recommendation that the United States request formal consultations with the Government of Bahrain,” said Committee Ranking Member Sander Levin. “Our trade agreements can and must serve to improve living standards and working conditions worldwide.”

“This is the right thing to do,” said Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Jim McDermott. “Workers everywhere have a right to expect that their employment status will not be jeopardized as a result of their political beliefs, their religious beliefs, or their decision to organize and participate in political and economic demonstrations and protests. The Obama Administration is helping to ensure that our trade relations reflect not only our commercial interests, but also our values as well.”